Stereoselective Regulation of P-gp Activity by Clausenamide Enantiomers in Caco-2, KB/KBv and Brain Microvessel Endothelial Cells

PLoS One. 2015 Aug 21;10(8):e0135866. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0135866. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

The (-)- and (+)-clausenamide (CLA) enantiomers have different pharmacokinetic effects in animals, but their association with putative stereoselective regulation of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) remains unclear. Using three cells expressing P-gp-Caco-2, KBv and rat brain microvessel endothelial cells(RBMEC), this study investigated the association of CLA enantiomers with P-gp. The results showed that the rhodamine 123 (Rh123) accumulation, an indicator of P-gp activity, in Caco-2, KBv and RBMECs was increased by (-)CLA (1 or 5 μmol/L) at 8.2%-28.5%, but reduced by (+)CLA at 11.7%-25.9%, showing stereoselectivity in their regulation of P-gp activity. Following co-treatment of these cells with each CLA enantiomer and verapamil as a P-gp inhibitor, the (+)-isomer clearly antagonized the inhibitory effects of verapamil on P-gp efflux, whereas the (-)-isomer had slightly synergistic or additive effects. When higher concentrations (5 or 10 μmol/L) of CLA enantiomers were added, the stimulatory effects of the (+)-isomer were converted into inhibitory ones, leading to an enhanced intracellular uptake of Rh123 by 24.5%-58.2%; but (-)-isomer kept its inhibition to P-gp activity, causing 30.0%-63.0% increase in the Rh123 uptake. The biphasic effects of (+)CLA were confirmed by CLA uptake in the Caco-2 cells. (+)CLA at 1 μmol/L had significantly lower intracellular uptake than (-)CLA with a ratio[(-)/(+)] of 2.593, which was decreased to 2.167 and 1.893 after CLA concentrations increased to 2.5 and 5 μmol/L. Besides, in the non-induced KB cells, (+)CLA(5 μmol/L) upregulated P-gp expression at 54.5% relative to vehicle control, and decreased Rh123 accumulation by 28.2%, while (-)CLA(5 μmol/L) downregulated P-gp expression at 15.9% and increased Rh123 accumulation by 18.0%. These results suggested that (-)CLA could be a P-gp inhibitor and (+)CLA could be a modulator with concentration-dependent biphasic effects on P-gp activity, which may result in drug-drug interactions when combined with other P-gp substrate drugs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / genetics*
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Antiviral Agents / chemistry
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Biological Transport
  • Brain / blood supply
  • Brain / cytology
  • Caco-2 Cells
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Antagonism
  • Drug Synergism
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / chemistry
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / pharmacology*
  • Endothelial Cells / cytology
  • Endothelial Cells / drug effects
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Epithelial Cells / cytology
  • Epithelial Cells / drug effects
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Lactams / chemistry
  • Lactams / pharmacology*
  • Lignans / chemistry
  • Lignans / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Rhodamine 123 / metabolism
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Verapamil / pharmacology

Substances

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal
  • Lactams
  • Lignans
  • clausenamide
  • Rhodamine 123
  • Verapamil

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30873117, http://www.nsfc.gov.cn/, CJZ), and the Major Scientific and Technological Special Project for “Significant New Drugs Creation” (http://www.most.gov.cn/; 2009ZX09501-018, CJZ, XMY; 2009ZX09301-003-51, CJZ, YL; 2012ZX09301-002-001-002, CJZ). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.